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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-06-19, Page 4Despite the threats from the weather- Man, Grand Bend's first I3uffaloburger Fest was a resounding success. As a participant, it was easy to sit down and enjoy a buffaloburger, something of a novelty in itself, listen to the music and relax, But for many, the two-day event was the apex of one 'hang of a lot of hard work'. Planning for the event started months ago, Getting the buffalo meat to Grand Bend was an effort in itself which required two trips across Ontario to the Peterborough area. And as most mothers will appreciate, arranging food and refreshment for the thousands who took part is a big job. Buffaloburger Fest will show a good profit for the newly rejuvenated Grand Bend. and District Chamber of Commerce but had the venture been of a commercial nature, without the hundreds of hours of volunteer labour, the profit and loss state- ment would have looked somewhat less cheerful, Before the first buffaloburger was chomped, hundreds of hours of plan- ning and arranging had been completed. Dozens of volunteers spent untold hours Friday and Saturday; cooking, serving, working at the bar, policing, cleaning up and carrying out the thousand and one little jobs which crop up unexpectedly when an event of this size is carried out. To all who helped with the Buf- faloburger Fest, congratulations on a job well done. There are those who worked harder than others and if you fit into this category, you at least have the personal satisfaction of knowing that your efforts contributed to the success of the event. Next year, with good weather again, Buffaloburger Fest will turn out to be an annual event and the second staging of the gala gathering will be an even bigger success. Court rules wisely Three cheers this week for Judge Glenn Hays in ruling that four-letter words are still considered obscene when used in public in this particular area. It may be a losing battle in view of the obscene language and pictures to which people are subjected in our permissive society, but that has only come about because people failed to take a stand. More and more it seems people think it is "cute" to shock their audience with obscene utterances on TV, in movies and even newspapers, but it still goes against the grain for many residents of rural On- tario who were brought up under more strict standards. The use of obscene words does little but indicate that the user his an extremely poor command of the English language when he can not find less obtrusive ex- pressions with which to communicate. Oddly enough, there are words in the dictionary that are more biting or derisive and yet can not be considered obscene, but leave a much better impression of the user even though they actually get his point across much more vividly. We agree with Judge Hays that four- letter words are indeed still ranked as obscene by the majority of residents of this area and it is most encouraging that our courts are backing up the ideals held by the majority. Little league woes The United States-controlled Little League Inc., tilted its rules recently to shut out tiny Taiwan from this year's baseball playoffs. Seems Taiwan's been winning too often. But the "official" reason given by Lit- tle League executives is even more hysterical. They announced they couldn't afford to ferry in teams from far-off places because they have already blown $250,000 in court battles last year keeping girls from playing on the boys' teams! • Moans Moe Druick, director of Cana- dian Little League Inc., "evertime we were sued by a mother wanting her daughter on a boys' team we had to hire a lawyer to answer it." As Montreal sports columnist John Robertson acidly put it, "if there's anything more demeaning than losing to a bunch of Orientals — it's exposing America's red-blooded young athletes to potential defeat by the pre-teen feminist movement!" Robertson said the whole infantile con- troversy makes him want to "throw up". Isn't it time Canadian coaches and parents laughed the entire pressure- cooker, win-mad Little League system clear out of existence? We should Set up more community leagues to serve ALL boys and girls interested in playing team sports — teach them expertise, sportspeopleship — and let them have some FUN. KEEP C4N4D4 OWING A 7'"',Z'VWPACVMECY;WWARAXnK:N.:.M.,2EMENESESVAL:MMOVNESZIAM Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 (ExeterZime,sairtiorate SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., 0.W.N.A. and ABC Publisher Robert Southcott Editor — Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Assistant Editor -- Ross Haugh Plant Manager — Les Webb Composition Manager — David Worby Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation March 81, 1975 5,249 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $9.00 Per Year; USA $11.00 1,1.tacsi:,..RA.,Aeei4,4014.o.:2wAginzAragSMAgoszUREmAivrATUAAVAZAii%it gat 0.K.'.;MW,kiNO:: Phone 235-1331 *CNA Took many hands ANOTHER COMPLAINANT TO SEE you Al3ouT THE. GREEN PAPER DENG fkACiST, MR. ANDRA 5- Some gooc news, some bad Silly bird In defense of the Yanks As regular readers of this column are aware, there are a great many things that bother , me. On the whole, I'm glad of it. May I never become one of those people who are never bothered about anything, or if they are, don't have enough guts to say or do anything about it, The list is endless: Celsius temperatures; those silly organs at hockey games; ' strident Women's Libbers; stupid male chauvinists; gutless politicians; lawless unions; greedy big business; chicken bureaucrats; tire-squealing adolescents of any age; mindless beer ads; town engineers who want to cut down trees; snotty hotel desk clerks; religious fanatics; ripoff artists in the social services; the Receiver-General of Canada; most administrators; most people who make more money than I do. I could fill a column. This should make me a very disturbed young man.I use the term advisedly. How come everyone is getting old but you and me? Fortunately, this has not happened. There are so many things I like that I am usually in a state of happy balance, like a fat lady going on a diet of ice cream sundaes. However, there is one thing in this country that gravels me thoroughly. It's a nasty thing, spreading like a cancer, as dif- ficult to fight, and just as fatal to the people infected. That thing is the steady growth in this country, fostered by a small, often vicious but vociferous minority, of Anti- Americanism, I don't think is has yet grown to uncontrollable proportions in the corpus Canadiensis, and I hope it can be cut out with some rigorous surgery in the right places. It's a creepy, crawling 'xisiness, and the healthy mind can be smeared with it subtly, without even noticing its existence. It's hard to pin down, You can find it among educators, in the press, among politicians, and in varAng degrees of shrillness throughout the media. Many honest nationalists are taken in, and eventually find that their pride in things Canadian has been warped into Anti- Americanism, Let there be no mistake. There is no real con- nection. The former is healthy. The latterf is sick. This has always been a country loaded with prejudice, whatever you may think'. A couple of generations back, the Anglo- Saxons of this fine free country of ours looked down their noses, even though their own background was an English slum, a Scottish croft or an Irish shanty. They spoke bluntly and disparagingly of lesser breeds, Germans and Scandinavians were Squareheads. Italians were Wops, or Dagoes. French were neither Canadian nor Canadien. They were Frogs or Peasoupers. Everybody from Eastern Europe to the Ukraine was a Hunkie. A black person was a Nigger. And a Jew? Well, a Jew certainly wasn't Jewish. He was "just a Jew." The only thing lower than any of these categories was a woman. Think I'm romancing? It Having listened to a number of the arguments presented in the current dispute over use of the bowling green clubhouse, it is almost necessary to come to the conclusion that some members of the local adult population are being rather contrary. It may well be a proverbial tempest in a teapot, but nevertheless it is most disheartening to learn that har- mony can not be attained in the use of a facility. Comments from those in the middle (RAP members) would suggest that a major problem lies in the fact that some people in- volved in the dispute do not fully comprehend that the facility is owned by the public and therefore no one group has any priority. The problem is not an unusual one for RAP, of course, because they face similar situations in demands for the use of other facilities such as arena ice, ball diamonds, etc. There can be little quarrel with their decision on the clubhouse, but there may have been some merit in locking the door for both the bowlers and the card players until such time as they agreed to sit down,' as responsible adults should, and work out their own satisfactory arrangement for joint use of the building. However, if the people are as stubborn as some would suggest, that may have resulted in a crippling blow for both groups, and fortunately RAP members may have at least shown some wisdom that was not evident in others involved. + + + On the other side of the coin, it was interesting to sit on last week's meeting between Exeter sounds pretty ugly, doesn't it? But I was there, gentle reader, and so were many of you. With education, enlightenment, and a fine per- formance by most of those lowly immigrants, came a change in atmosphere. It became fashionable to be "tolerant," a word that has always made me squirm. But not before the private schools, and the law societies and the medical schools and the golf clubs had had their Wasps-only barricades knocked down. It was ugly in this country. The grandchildren of those earlier prejudiced people showed a remarkable lack of that narrowness, Canada was becoming an oasis of freedom for the individual, People were ,leaning over backward to prove they were liberal and "tolerant." And now that narrowness and secret hatred seems to be channeling itself into Anti - Americanism. People in ,this country talked endlessly about Watergate, as though such a sewer of corruption were peculiar to Americans. They sniggered about the antics of American leaders. There was a particularly nasty gloating when the Americans pulled out of Vietnam. There was and is a proliferating of popular articles about the Americans owning, Canadian industry, buying up Canadian property. Let's put an end to this slimy business, Let's look at our own dredging scandals and lawless unions, Let's stop secretly cheering when the Yanks get a bloody nose somewhere. It's not their fault that they're rich and powerful. They didn't seize our industry, We sold it to them. France and Britain virtually ignored Canada when this country was abuilding. We owe them nothing, We could have a lot worse neighbors than the Americans; in fact almost anyone I can think of. Anti-Americanism is chiefly petty envy, and is found only among those who are petty and envious. We're too big for that, 50 Years Ago A blaze of doubtless incendiary broke out in the large frame storage building in connection with the flax mill owned by Mr. Owen Geiger and Son of Hensall, at the north end of the village on Sunday night and before anything could be done towards ex- tinguishing the blaze the entire building was enveloped in flames, and beyond control, The fire was still burning late Monday evening. Damage was estimated at $50,000. Mr. C. B. Snell, Exeter leading realestate'man,hasconsummated a deal whereby he becomes the possessor of one of the oldest and at one time what was considered one of the finest residential properties in Exeter, viz: the double house on Main St. built by the late James Pickard, owned by the estate of the late Thomas Gregory. This residence was built about fifty years ago and at that time was the finest dwelling this side of London. It was the centre of the community life and hummed with activity. 25 Years Ago Harvey Sparling and pupils of Winchelsea School went by chartered bus by way of Port Huron on an educational tour .to Detroit. Reeve A. J. Sweitzer brought up a big question at the council meeting Monday night - should the village of Exeter become a town? Mr. & Mrs. Willis Powell celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in St, Joseph's Hospital where Mrs, Powell is a patient, Mr, J, M. Southcott is travelling on an extended goodwill tour of Ontario with -a number of American editors. 15 Years Ago Dr. Carey B. Joyrit, of Hensall, now head of the Department of International Relations of Lehigh University, Penn., has received a grant to support research into the field of world relations. R. L. Beavers was installed as president of the Exeter Lions Club, Thursday night by Inter- national Councillor A. J. Sweitzer. Mr. & Mrs, Ernest Cerson left Monday for a trip to the west. They plan to see the Calgary Stampede and visit in Regina and Portage La Prairie. It was announced this week by John Berry, Goderich, that a total of $13,366.17 has been contributed by Huron County to the blitz for World Refugee Year held in May. Exeter citizens contributed $1,460.00; Crediton $776.85 and Hensall $300,00, Musical selections by the Exeter Citizens Band under the leadership of Brother Theodore Walper featured the annual memorial and decoration day service of the Exeter Lodge IOOF, at Exeter Cemetery on Sunday. 10 Years Ago David Noakes, former SHDHS graduate and son of Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Noakes, Hensall, received his Bachelor of Science degree in Honors Biology. He was presented with a gold medal and is currently working for his Masters of Science degree. What is believed a first in Huron County occurred last week when results from a lie-detector test were used in a court session. About 100 members of the "Exeter and Area Hydro family" surprised K. J. Lamp- man, area Ontario Hydro manager, with a retirement banquet, Thursday night. Tax rates of 6.5 millg regidefitial and 72.5 commercial were ap- proved at a special session of Grand Bend council, Friday, Mt, & Mrs,Richard McFallg and family left Friday to spend three weeks With friends in Nova Scotia. When we were opening up the cottage a few weeks back, we came upon a robin's nest built between the window and the boards we had nailed over it for the winter, We tried hard not to disturb the mother and her three little nestlings, and in a matter of a week or two, two of the young birds, having acquired their feathers, had stretched their wings and flown out into the world away beyond the confines of the narrow window sill. But not the third. No; he just sat there like a great lump, either too afraid to try his wings, or plain lazy . . . we couldn't tell which. • The housecleaning couldn't be held uplindefinitely so finally we decided we had babied him enough and went ahead with our work. We also thought all our activity might rouse the fellow into some action himself. Not so.While I flailed my cleaning cloth on the inside of the window, my husband pushed the whirring lawn mower over the long grass directly beneath the bird's retreat but he still sat there, shaking in his feathers, head tucked deep down into his neck, eyes closed determined not to move. The next day, my father, who was also a part of the clean-up crew, inadvertently put his hand on the nest as he reached for support while trimming some bushes. That did it! The young bird, having finally felt the hand of fate, as it were, spread his wings with a terrified squawk and flapped into the nearest branch. In no time at all, having discovered his ability to soar above his old nest, he was off and away. How silly-bird-like some of us In Canada in 1971 there were 191,124 marriages. Marriage is still the in-thing. There are more married people in our population than ever before. People are getting married younger. Twenty-seven percent of the brides were 19 or under; bridegrooms of the same age made 15 percent of all grooms. There is a tendency for people to marry at a younger age. These facts and others regarding Canadian marriage patterns are presented in the current issue of Chatelaine. There is much satisfaction in marriage and a tremendous promise. Men and women form partnerships in marriage wherein individual growth and mutual support and concern are the order of the day, The marriage ideal is still with us. Yet the stresses and strains of modern living have their effect upon the institution of marriage, More than ever it is true that couples have to work at their marriages. Such is the sign of the times. In times past the institution of marriages had the full support of the law and of the church. But the law is reflecting the stresses of the times and is not as supportive as in tines past. The church is not as significant in present day society as in former times. The religious values that strengthened marriage are not held univer- sally. The 'family functions such as education, food supply, and personal security are in- creasingly supplied impersonally by agencies and institutions. Why are more and more couples going the way of the altar? The explanation posited is simply tha t marriage is the way to happiness. However difficult it is to be happy and however over- burdened the marriage relationship is in the quest for happiness yet there is hunger to belong to someone and to love someone. This hunger for personal are! We become nest-bound with a kind of arthritis of the soul. The young bird thought that he was stuck to the nest; that it was impossible for him to leave; that the dangers out there in the unknown were too formidable to face. Yet, I'm sure, having flown high above the nest which had held him so long, he looked down at it with amazement as he compared its drabness with the beauty he was now free to enjoy in the trees and air. All of us get bound down by our troubles and disappointments but perhaps we tend to over estimate them. Like the bird, we need to rise above them and look down at our problems before we can overcome them. Then, they often do not seem so impossible and we gain confidence in our ability to deal with them. Perhaps your problem looks very big, but you have a brain with which to think and pray and believe. This combination will lift you above any difficulty and help you to see that the impossible is possible. Louis Brandeas says, "most of the things worth doing in this world have been declared impossible before they were done." Christianity is a religion of possibilities . For example, we read in Luke: "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." If we get with God and tuned in on His wave length, nothing is impossible. If you have a problem that is defeating you, With God's help you can handle it, You may not overcome it, but you can at least learn to live with it and be master of it. Don't let creeping paralysis bind you to your trouble like the bird stuck in his nest. Soar above it; with God's help it can be overcome. relationship is a product of our times, in, some degree at leak. Many bonds that have sustained us in the past are weakening and broken. Values and beliefs are dim; associations are impersonal and fitful. "Our contacts are many, our relationships are few; our lives externally crowded, are often internally isolated; we remain but tenuously linked to each other and our ties are easily undone." Loneliness is prevalent even in the midst of crowds. Marriage is seen then as the antidote to this modern, disjointed living. Romance surrounds marriage and has for centuries. "They got married and lived happily ever after," The fairy-tale simplicity is the heart of modern fantasy about marriage. Even social science has cen- tered on the family decree that singleness is inappropriate to modern living. The centrality of sexual con- cerns tends to becloud the discussion about marriage. In modern times manuals on life are written by scientists. They are in reality sex manuals, The process of life is seen as being entirely sexual. It is well to turn from this to some other problems commonly seen in marriages. Indeed we can make the following idea a test regarding our family life. Togetherness is touted as being all important, True togetherness is certainly a building block of marriage. But often togetherness is contrived, self-conscious, following a stereotype. Rigidity in relationships brings a limitation to growth. Often a marriage partner-has to live up to the other's preconceptions. Over-permissiveness is a general problem of today. The loosening of family ties prematurely is a breaking up of the family and the spoiling of individuals. Some families are charac- terized by a concern for certain aspects of living and a forget- fulness about others, This is seen often` in the matter of material provision with a lack of emotional care. Scapegoating is a sign of ab- normal family living. One part of the family is comfortable at the expense of another part of the family, When family life becomes a routine in the place of true in- timacy then the shell is intact but much of the vitality and life has escaped, An escape mechanism froM the responsibilities of family life is self-indulgance, a turning to alcohol or a love affair. It is a sign of our modern times that marriage has to be worked at. It was always true but more so now. PUC, council and Usborne of- ficials regarding the proposed water test in the township. The officials had come to get answers to the many questions that have been raised and basically, they stuck to that ideal and didn't allow the meeting to degenerate into a dialogue of unfounded opinions, as often happens in such issues. We may have misread the meeting to an extent, but our conclusion was that everyone in attendance was anxious to conduct the test and then get back together and attempt to find out what those tests may con- clude as far as further proceedings are concerned. It is absolutely necessary that matters of this nature be taken one step at a time and this ap- pears to be the intent. It's when people start reaching conclusions on suppositions that problems arise and if the discussions continue on the same level as they were at the meeting, the matter should be resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned. It is only natural that farmers in the area...of the proposed well should be concerned, but judging from the comments of ministry of the environment officials, their interests will be well (no pun intended) protected. The geological ramifications of such proceedings are difficult for most laymen to comprehend,but if those involved rely on the opinions and facts presented by these experts, many fears can be alleviated. While it may be prudent at this time to exclude some of the op- ponents of the scheme from meetings between officials, it is apparent that they must . be provided with all the facts available and given an op- portunity to question those presenting the facts so they too I can become more knowledgeable and understand the basis for any decisions that may be reached. + + + Further to our comments of last week regarding the town hall issue, the point about requiring accurate costs became evident when tenders were opened for the renovations to the former post office. Figures for this project have been tossed about for several months and ranged anywhere froman original figure of $5,000 to $35,000. The tenders show that even knowledgeable construction men differ in their opinions as to the costs. One bid was for $35,033, while another bid was set at $61,025. At one time, council members argued they should be their own contractors on the job and hand out the business to those in- terested, That type of decision would only have been prudent had they managed to find the firms which could do the job for $35,000 rather than those which would have submitted bills for $61,025. In our estimation, the work required on the town hall is even more of an unknown factor and a decision can not be reached until an architect has drafted plans for the work planned and prices have been secured on a tender basis. ,That will obviously involve some cost before any decisions can be reached, but it may still be far cheaper than proceeding without such information. As indicated by the post office project, and several other previous projects in this area, the estimates of some people can double and even triple when the actual work is undertaken or put out to tender. Our response to now By ELMORE BOOMER Counsellor for Information South Huron For appointment phone: 235-0560 or 228-6291 Marriage toddy "